Friday, August 25, 2006

Potential Marathon Gold Medalist Attacked: Hands, Legs Broken

In a shocking and horrifying act, a potential Sri Lanka gold medalist in the marathon at the ongoing South Asian Games was assaulted by unidentified gangsters who broke his limbs, police said.

In a report, Mulleriyawa police told Colombo`s Additional Magistrate that national sport star Dinesh Tharanga Kumar who had served in the Army was being treated at the Colombo National Hospital.

The police told court that six persons had severely assaulted Mr. Kumara while he was returning home with a relative.

The suspects who later surrendered to the police had during the incident at Kelanimulla in Angoda attacked Mr. Kumara with clubs breaking both his hands and his legs.

The police said the athlete was a member of Sri Lanka`s squad for the marathon which was scheduled to take place on Monday.

'This incident had deprived the country of winning a gold medal at the SAG,' the police told court.

The six suspects Nuwan Niroshan, Ravindra Sandaruwan Perera, Nishantha Upul, Suranga Lakmal, Anusha Chathuranga Perera and Suneth Indika were produced in court. The police also informed court that a Major Galappaththi along with two of the suspects had further threatened the victim while he was warded in hospital. Defence attorney Sanjaya Gamage made an application for bail and informed court his clients were willing to settle the matter amicably. Objecting to the application the police said the suspects could tamper with evidence.The Magistrate refused bail and remanded the suspects till September 6.

From The Daily Mirror (via Lanka Newspapers )

"Shocking" and "horrifying" doesn't even begin to describe this heinous crime. And what the hell does the defense attorney mean by "his clients were willing to settle the matter amicably"?? Since when do people break a person's limbs (in this particular case it was six against one) and then settle the matter amicably?! As a comment on the LN web site mentions, maybe all six are loonies from Angoda - nothing else would make sense....

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